Priorities for Cooperation in Transboundary River Basins in Central Asia

The growing water deficit in transboundary river basins of Central Asia determines the need to develop water facilities, promote water saving and ensure sound water management in all sectors of the economy, which requires significant long-term investment. To achieve sustainable development of river basins, any solution tried out in one part of a basin should take into account the potential environmental impact and effects on water conditions in the remaining part of the basin.Of serious concern are natural disasters such as earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and mud flows, all of which threaten the safety of dams and water reservoirs, human settlements and urban areas along the rivers of Central Asia. Another concern shared by all Central Asian states is the shrinking Aral Sea, which is a major ground zero of natural and environmental crises. The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea exists to address these issues. This study will contribute to the improvement of the social and environmental situation in the region.The authors note that water management in transboundary river basins is a shared concern, which enables the development of unified approaches to shared water resources management. At the same time, differences in natural, climatic, economic and political conditions of each country cause major disagreements in interstate water relations. The legal regulation of water relations between Central Asian states would enable investment in the water sector and other sectors of the regional economy and promote more active involvement of international financial institutions